“Energy drinks won’t assist drivers on the road”

“Energy drinks that are highly consumed by long-distance taxi drivers and other motorists won’t be able to sustain their vigilance on the roads.”

“At some point, they will give in to the surmountable the pressure they’ve put their bodies in, and all heel hell will break loose.”

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This was the assertion of the MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe, who is on a province-wide campaign to ensure there is absolute safety on the provincial roads throughout this festive season.

Seemingly, road fatalities are on the increase this year as compared to 2020. This year, the province had accumulated 58 fatalities, whereas this year there’s 85 fatalities.

Drunken driving is also the focal point that Shongwe and his department are targeting, whereby, he will embark on special campaigns throughout the province, to ensure that motorists abide by the rules and regulations.

“In an endeavour to ensure that our traffic officials are on guard on the roads 24 hours, we have appealed to the Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane for a third shift to be in operation during such high-volume traffic seasons.

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“A third shift will assist us in being on guard throughout and catch up also on those dodgy motorists who choose to travel at awkward hours just to evade our officers during normal hours. We can do whatever we can, but safety on the roads rests on the motorists themselves.

“My earnest appeal is to the motorists to exercise responsibility for their own lives, passengers, other motorists on the roads and jaywalkers should also refrain from irresponsible walking on the roads, too. “My wish for this festive season is 100% compliance with rules and regulations on our roads and saving precious lives by reducing speed levels, driving roadworthy vehicles because from what I’ve seen at the roadblocks we mounted, it’s disappointing that such unroadworthy vehicles can be embarked upon for holiday travel.

“We need responsibility from drivers and their fellow passengers to ensure that they are safe to travel, no drinking and driving, including their passengers, too. Then we can witness safe arrivals at our intended destinations,” Shongwe appealed.